Taming Presentation Anxiety – Begin Within
- Oct 18, 2023
- 4 min read
Written by: Iulia Racovita, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
The anxiety experienced when having to present in front of higher executive levels may be independent of a professional’s age or position on the corporate ladder. Practice makes better, for sure. However, many times, silently, even most senior professionals feel uneasy about taking the spotlight.
F.E.A.R. is real. Racing heart, shaky voice, mind going blank – are just some of the sensations you may encounter. At one end, fear may be indeed driven by False Evidence Appearing Real, i.e. the story played by the mind. At the other end, the manifestation of fear is physical, hence totally real for the person experiencing it. In this article, we will delve into both sides of the coin and also look at a couple of strategies to bring some ease to the process.
1. Work on your self-awareness
Many times, it is not only a matter of skills. Even with public speaking training, you may still feel anxious and unprepared to speak confidently in front of other people. Until you pay attention to your inner experience in particular, you’ll not know what kind of fear or what kind of belief is creating discomfort.
Furthermore, no matter how open or non-hierarchical an organisation’s corporate culture may be, your experience in such contexts strongly depends on what you perceive as authority. And that is a personal, subconscious matter, worth exploring when there is an opportunity for such inner work.
2. Notice your mind in the moment
When under pressure, we often have the tendency to shrink in our mind’s eye and regress to previous versions of ourselves. As if suddenly the hesitating child emerges instead of the experienced professional. Also, we may allow ourselves to be overtaken by the negative voice in our head telling us that we are doomed to failure or reminding us about everything that could go wrong. The shaking confidence may lead further to the delivery of a weaker message.
By becoming aware of how the scene plays in your mind, you can reconnect to the present moment and gain access to your current skills and competencies.
3. Let your fear flow through
Ignoring, rejecting or trying to shut down your fear sets the ground for having an experience in which you lose control and anxiety intensifies even more.
Don’t try to control your emotions, let them flow through. Invite your fear to “tea”, as I’ve learned from meditation teacher and psychologist, Tara Brach. Mindfulness and meditation practice are an effective long-term strategy. Here is one way to work with your feelings in the moment: R.A.I.N. by Tara Brach.
4. Humanise the audience
Another thing you may notice by paying attention to the visuals in your mind when anxiety is at its peak is the tendency to de-humanise the “public”. It may be useful to remember that, under the corporate hats, there are real people, with their own struggles, worries, hopes and dreams.
5. Be the most flexible person in the room
Be prepared to admit that you do not have the answer (e.g. “This question makes sense, give me a moment to figure out if I have the answer or I need to check”). Seek to understand the other person’s opinion instead of prioritising to defend yours. That’s a useful listening skill that, when practiced, can make a difference in your life in general.
Sometimes it is only about tackling the unknown a bit more, finding out the usual routine (e.g. who sits where at the table or whether there’s expected to be a camera-on call) and staying flexible for unexpected changes.
6. Prepare
Few things can save you from lack of preparation (e.g. spontaneity, charm, luck, you name it), but do they? Stepping in unprepared is definitely a no-go.
Anticipate questions by considering what you’d want to know if you were in the shoes of your audience.
Practice your presentation by speaking aloud. It will help you boost confidence, identify issues in your content, and manage your speech pace effectively. Speaking aloud helps prevent unexpected hesitancy in your voice.
Utilise short bullet points as supporting material, instead of relying on a word-for-word script. This approach enhances flexibility, allows you to handle interruptions, and adapts to requests for a quicker or shorter presentation. Plus, it alleviates concerns about forgetting your speech.
7. Be kind to yourself
If the people you’re presenting to have attained a high level of maturity in life, they won’t judge you based on your nervousness. While ensuring thorough preparation, approach the situation with your best intentions. Your goal should not be to impress, but to have full access to who you are.
Last but not least, be kind to yourself; there’s a lesson to be learned from every experience. Increasing self-awareness in challenging situations contributes to lifelong personal growth.
And when, in turn, you find yourself in the audience, remember to bring to the table your genuine humanity and kindness.
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Iulia Racovita, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
An advocate for lifelong learning, Iulia Racovita chose to harness her strategies as a highly effective academic learner and apply them to other areas of life. What began as a learning experiment in her mid-thirties has evolved into an inspiring journey. Today, as a passionate certified life coach, she empowers mid-career professionals to navigate challenges with clarity and ease. In serving her clients, Iulia leverages her professional background as an internal audit manager and an internationally certified chartered accountant with over 15 years of local and international experience in the financial sector. Discover how she can help you achieve your goals! Visit her website – https://iuliaracovita.ck.page/home
